A little archery, a little "Tip of the Week", a little personal bias…

[lyagooshka]

#4459

Bill Heavey, one of my favorite authors, [finally] came out with his second book. “It’s Only Slow Food Until You Try to Eat It: Misadventures of a Suburban Hunter-Gatherer” comes out next week. People may know Mr. Heavey from the last page of the F&S mag.

So what does that have to do with our forum? Well, he is an archer (he also likes to fish). Admittedly, he still has training wheels on his bow, but if you ever read “If You Didn’t Bring Jerky, What Did I Just Eat: Misadventures in Hunting, Fishing, and the Wilds of Suburbia” [his first book] you will know (from his tirades on slob hunters and the like) that the tool he uses has no bearing on his ethics and dedication to hunting, both hunter and prey.

Next, the topic of this book is a bit off from his first. This book is more about his adventure in “living off the land” (there’s the tie-in to our “Tip of the Week”) and not just hunting/fishing. He learns to survive [somewhat] off of only the things he catches, kills or picks. The TOTW about morels made me think of it. There is some reference here to “Stalking The Wild Asparagus” by Euell Gibbons which I may have to get one day.

I guess I have to include the “I do not work for, nor do I get money from…”, so there it is. I am still a nurse working in a nursing home. That’s all. I pay full price for everything.

Ok, that being said, Mr. Heavey is not writing hunting stories on par with Hill, Bear, etc. What I like about his writing is how many times I think “OMG that just happened to me”. And every time I think that, it’s not about that huge buck or record bass. It’s usually about being in such a rush to get to your stand in the morning that you forget your boots at home and wind up running out [and hunting] in your slippers.

If you have [or can find] a relatively recent (past 5-10 years) copy of F&S, you can check out Mr. Heavey’s work. Unlike his first book, which was a collection of short stories (many from F&S), this book is broken down into actual chapters. It starts a bit slow if you are expecting a continuation of his first book (which I was), but picks up after that.

Just want to clarify that last statement. The book is not yet available. I pre-ordered it for my Kindle and (by mistake I guess) I got it early. I was not going to complain or point this out to Amazon, so I just started reading it. I was anticipating it every bit as much as I am anticipating my Helms Deep (currently in the mail). I am about half way through.

If looking for something to pass the time this summer (between practicing for the fall), give this book a try.

Be well.

Alex

😀

[Todd Smith]

#36801

Sounds interesting… I am currently trying to learn about foraging. This book might tie in to that topic as well. Thanks! todd

[lyagooshka]

#38260

If nothing else, you’ll get some good resources as he mentions several “must-haves” for foragers. Everything from “stalking the wild asparagus”, to the forager’s bible (I forget the name). Interesting read. Be well.

Alex

😀

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